WASHINGTON -- API has welcomed the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would increase certainty, transparency, and efficiency in the permitting process for natural gas pipelines at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). S. 1844, the Coordinating Interagency Review of Natural Gas Infrastructure Act of 2017, was introduced by Sens. Inhofe, R-Okla., and King, I-Maine.

“Promoting certainty in the natural gas pipeline permitting process is a win for American workers, consumers, and the environment,” said API Federal Relations Senior Director Khary Cauthen. “Maintaining and expanding our natural gas pipeline infrastructure will help increase the use of clean natural gas that has supported millions of jobs, lowered energy costs for consumers, and driven carbon emissions throughout the U.S. economy down to levels not seen in nearly 25 years. While FERC’s review process is robust and thorough, it isn’t always timely or efficient. This important legislation will help promote infrastructure projects across the country by encouraging greater coordination, transparency, efficiency, and certainty in the permit review process.”

According to a recent ICF study commissioned by API, clean natural gas supported more than 4 million jobs in 2015 and is estimated to support 6 million jobs by 2040. The full study containing information on the benefits of natural gas in each of the 50 states is available on API’s website.